460 
MISCELLANEA. 
mistress, who grudged particularly the expense of candle-light, 
John contrived at least to make his master sensible of the incon¬ 
venience of darkness. It happened one night that the minister 
being sent for in a hurry by one of his parishioners who was 
taken ill, John thought proper to saddle the cow instead of the 
horse. .After proceeding a little way, the minister turned back, 
and called out rather angrily, that the horse had got horns. “If 
there has been a mistake made,” answered John, “the mistress 
must be responsible, as she chooses to send me to the stable 
always in the dark.” 
TO CORRESPONDENTS. 
We have received a third letter, we shrewdly suspect written by the 
same person, although the signature is varied, and the postage-of neither 
of which was paid, inquiring, and in a somewhat peremptory tone, why 
Mr. Vines’s papers on the absorbents are not continued. We beg to refer 
the writer or writers to Mr. Vines. By the bye, this practice of sending 
letters (two-penny post letters chiefly), without paying the [)Ostage, is be- 
comiug -a little too frequent, and we entreat that it may be discontinued, 
especially when many of them are evidently written for the purpose of 
annoyance. Most of these letters have a northern or north-eastern post¬ 
mark upon them, d'hese things, however, annoy not us, but they disgrace 
the parties. Dr. Abel relates that, when a Newfoundland dog left his mas¬ 
ter’s house, he was often assailed by a number of little noisy dogs in the 
street. He usually passed them with apparent unconcern, as if they were 
beneath his notice ; but one cur w as particularly troublesome, and at length 
carried his impudence so far as to bite the Newfoundland dog in the leg. 
This was a degree of w anton insult beyond what he could patiently endtn e ; 
and he instantly turned round, and seized the ofl’endcr, and carried him to 
the river side, and dropped him into the water; and when the little rascal 
was well ducked, and well trightened, and beginning to sink, he plunged 
in and brought him safe to land. Now', two or three of these curs, kinds 
of ringleaders in mischief, louder yelpers than the rest, have lately carried 
their impudence so far as to attempt to bite. Lord bless thetn ! their tiny 
teeth could not penetrate our skin ; but if they should try it again, and pinch 
a little too hard, why we will seize them by the nape of the neck, where 
we shall not hurt them too much, and hold them up to the terror of their 
companions, and the loud laugh of every stander-by : and after having given 
them a good hearty shake or two, yet breaking no bones—we would not 
seriously injure sucli poor little souls for the world—they shall craw 1 away 
in all their native insignificance. 
The annual dinner of the Veterinary Club will be held at the King’s 
Arms Tavern, Bridge Street, AVesIminster, on Thursday, the l2th of Sep¬ 
tember; and the Club would be most happy to see any of their country 
friends. We give this lengthened notice, that our friends may have more 
time to make their arrangements, and also to remind some of them of their 
promises, and with the fulfilment of which there are certain persons who 
associate the expectation of much pleasure. 
AVill Messrs. Caxton, Lewis, and Stewart inform us how we shall convey 
to them their certificates of merit for the last year. 
